tag:Community Blogs:blogCommunity Blogshttp://bulk2.destructoid.com/ul/avatars/7/19247.pngZen Albatrosshttps:://www.destructoid.com/blogs/Zen Albatross2009-07-27T23:29:56ZCommunity Blogs:196127See Ya, GDC. Hello, PAX East - Zen AlbatrossZen Albatross2011-03-10T12:53:08Z2011-03-10T12:53:08Z<img src="http://bulk2.destructoid.com/ul/user/1/19247-196127-va2kkjpg-620x.jpg"/>
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<br/>Im still not fully recovered from all of the rad stuff that went on last week at GDC in San Francisco (see some of my coverage <a target="_blank" href="http://motherboard.tv/2011/3/7/gdc-11-indies-show-their-might-with-diy-arcade-machines-a-qwop-bear-ninjas--2">here</a>, <a target="_blank" href="http://motherboard.tv/2011/3/4/gdc-11-valve-talks-biofeedback-biologic-inputs-for-videogames">here</a> and <a target="_blank" href="http://www.motherboard.tv/2011/3/10/gdc-11-scenes-from-giant-robot-s-videogame-art-party--2">here</a>), but nevertheless, Im headed to Boston this weekend for PAX East.
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<br/>The chip showcase we had there last year was pretty legit, but this year its going into overdrive: Local allies <a target="_blank" href="http://boston8bit.com">Boston8bit</a> have teamed up with <a target="_blank" href="http://magfest.org">MAGFest</a> to organize a 3-part chip showcase featuring <strong>15 performers and 3 visual artists</strong> to the PAX East Jamspace on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
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<br/>Ill be giving a presentation on the history of chip music <strong>Saturday morning at 10 AM</strong> in the Jamspace, then performing alongside AdamGetsAwesome, Danimal Cannon, Bright Primate and Smiletron from 11 - 2 PM.
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<br/>Ill be bringing some merch with me too: Micro-CDs (the same ones I premiered at PAX Prime - only a couple left) and brand-new 1 Zen Albatross buttons, brought to you thanks to the hard work of <a target="_blank" href="http://www.bltidm.com">Jenn DLV</a>:
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<br/><img src="http://bulk2.destructoid.com/ul/user/1/19247-196127-31011Buttonsjpg-620x.jpg"/> <img src="http://bulk2.destructoid.com/ul/user/1/19247-196127-tumblrl860nwAYog1qzolb9o1r1500jpg-620x.jpg"/>
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<br/>Other must-see acts like NY chiptune forebears Bit Shifter and Glomag will also be performing throughout the weekend. And if you're still around on Sunday, definitely don't miss casio/gameboy duo <a target="_blank" href="http://theshortsleeves.info">The Shortsleeves</a>, who are on tour this month.
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<br/>Here's the full lineup:
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<br/>=== FRIDAY ===
<br/>Cathode Rays
<br/>Oxygenstar
<br/>Active Knowledge
<br/>Animal Style
<br/>Bit Shifter
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<br/>=== SATURDAY ===
<br/>AdamGetsAwesome
<br/>Zen Albatross
<br/>Danimal Cannon
<br/>Br1ght Pr1mate
<br/>Smiletron
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<br/>=== SUNDAY ===
<br/>7th Gear
<br/>Facundo
<br/>Shortsleeves
<br/>Disasterpeace
<br/>glomag and Corset lore
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<br/>=== VISUAL ARTISTS ===
<br/>InvaderBacca
<br/>HN_i_C
<br/>Batsly Adams
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<br/><strong><a target="_blank" href="http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=199116210100365">More info + RSVP here</a>.</strong> <p class="post-photos">
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Community Blogs:181584Babycastles: Where Punk Rock & Homemade Videogames Live In Sweet Harmony - Zen AlbatrossZen Albatross2010-08-16T20:11:46Z2010-08-16T20:11:46Z<a target="_blank" href="http://motherboard.tv/2010/8/16/babycastles-where-punk-rock-homemade-videogames-live-in-sweet-harmony"><img src="http://bulk2.destructoid.com/ul/user/1/19247-181584-fort90Xbabycastlesjpg-620x.jpg"/></a>
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<br/><span style="font-size:10px;"><em>Oh wow, I haven't posted here in quite a while. Do I even know anyone on this site anymore? Anywho, I thought you (whoever you are) might like to check out some on-site reporting I've done for Vice on a DIY indie games arcade that's making waves here in New York City. Enjoy!</em></span>
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<br/>In New York City, theres a new arcade in town. But dont expect to find anything you could purchase at your local Gamestop here. Instead, the homemade titles that fill the ramshackle cabinets of this musty basement just off the L trains Halsey stop are part of an underground movement thats re-invigorating interest in grassroots game development by taking to heart a credo strikingly similar to that of the early punk rock scene.
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<br/>The place is Silent Barn, an active DIY music venue in Ridgewood, Queens that has quickly become an unlikely hub of videogame counterculture through Babycastles, a curated gallery of independently developed games from developers around the world. Normally a faceless exchange operating through all manner of internet message boards, blogs and IRC channels, Babycastles co-founders Syed Salahuddin, Kunal Gupta and Arthur Ward aim to bring the indie games community back into meatspace. And theyre doing it the only way they know how to: By throwing raucous parties with live music and huge crowds of gaming enthusiasts button-mashing away on arcade cabinets lovingly crafted from planks of wood, painted styrofoam and whatever else was lying around that day.
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<br/>Check out more photos from the most recent Babycastles event on <a target="_blank" href="http://motherboard.tv/2010/8/16/babycastles-where-punk-rock-homemade-videogames-live-in-sweet-harmony">MOTHERBOARD</a>.
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<br/><span style="font-size:10px;"><a target="_blank" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/studiomadness/">Photo by Earl Z. Madness</a></span> <p class="post-photos">
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Community Blogs:166859Pulsewave 3.20.2010 - Minusbaby, Zen Albatross, Active Knowledge & Mike Goodman - Zen AlbatrossZen Albatross2010-03-13T10:57:32Z2010-03-13T10:57:32Z<img src="http://www.pulsewavenyc.com/files/pulsewave-mar_10.gif"/>
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<br/>Hello, Destructo-friends. It's Self-Promotion Time:
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<br/>I'm going to be playing <a target="_blank" href="http://www.pulsewavenyc.com">Pulsewave</a>, New York's largest monthly chipmusic event next weekend with my pals Minusbaby of 8bitpeoples and Active Knowledge of Boston 8-Bit. If you're in the area, holla at yer boy/albatross.
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<br/>- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
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<br/>Saturday, March 20th, 2010
<br/>8 PM - 12 AM
<br/>$10
<br/>All Ages
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<br/>The Tank
<br/>354 West 45th Street
<br/>Between 8th and 9th Avenues
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<br/>GOOGLE MAP
<br/>http://3.ly/thetank
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<br/>BY SUBWAY
<br/>A, C, E, N, Q, R, W, 1, 2, 3, B, D, F, V, S, or 7 to 42nd Street
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<br/>- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
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<br/>And if you can't make it, you'd better be in Boston the following week for <a target="_blank" href="http://www.paxsite.com">PAX East</a> -- I'll be joined by Disasterpeace, Br1ghtPr1mate, A_Rival, Active Knowledge and more for two days of chip concerts and panels in the Jamspace room. Be there or be square(wave).Community Blogs:163595Indie Love Bundle: Machinarium, And Yet It Moves, Osmos and more for only $20 - Zen AlbatrossZen Albatross2010-02-13T12:28:58Z2010-02-13T12:28:58Z<img src="http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_kxsljq5Owz1qzp9qu.jpg"/>
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<br/>Flowers, chocolates and poetry are all well and good, but nothing says I love you quite like a bouquet of award-winning indie games. Fortunately for all you shortchanged cassanovas out there, the <a target="_blank" href="http://theindiebundle.com/">Indie Love Bundle</a> is here with an affordable package of quality independent titles guaranteed to amplify the affections of your sweetheart this Valentines Day. Or to be enjoyed by yourself whilst stomping on rose petals and angrily expressing your disdain for the Hallmark card company.
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<br/><img src="http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_kxslj7BACG1qzp9qu.jpg"/>
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<br/>The bundle gives you six amazing indie titles for PC, Mac and Linux: Robotic puzzle adventure <a target="_blank" href="http://www.machinarium.com/">Machinarium</a>, serene biophysics engine <a target="_blank" href="http://www.hemispheregames.com/osmos/">Osmos</a>, gravity-shifting platformer <a target="_blank" href="http://www.andyetitmoves.net/">And Yet It Moves</a>, side-scrolling action RPG <a target="_blank" href="http://aztaka.citeremis.com/">Aztaka</a>, abstract audiovisual reverie <a target="_blank" href="http://www.playauditorium.com/">Auditorium</a> and ambient space simulator <a target="_blank" href="http://www.eufloria-game.com/">Eufloria</a> are all included. And of course, the best part is that you get all of this for only $20. Its an absolute steal, but just like an alarmingly high percentage of marriages, it wont last forever  Youll only be able to snag the bundle up until the clock strikes midnight next week on February 19th, so get moving. Whether youre lovestruck or loveless this year, dont pass up this amazing opportunity to experience some of the most important independent games of the past few years.
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<br/>[embed]163595:27399[/embed]Community Blogs:159075Giant Mega-NARP this weekend at MAGFest! - Zen AlbatrossZen Albatross2009-12-29T19:57:03Z2009-12-29T19:57:03Z<img src="http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_kvfzp89FWz1qzp9qu.jpg"/>
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<br/>If you were planning on spending another New Years Eve trolling NeoGAF while downing leftover egg nog, please first reconsider your life, then head down to Alexandria, Virginia to celebrate the earliest days of 2010 surrounded by rad videogames, loud music and swell folks.
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<br/><img src="http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_kvfzptOGHv1qzp9qu.jpg"/>
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<br/>Now in its 8th year, <a target="_blank" href="http://magfest.org">MAGFest</a> (Music and Gaming Festival) is an annual gathering of videogame composers, chip musicians, artists, remixers, gamers and fans. The Fest kicks off on New Years Eve and goes non-stop until January 4th. So after running myself ragged last week at <a target="_blank" href="http://www.motherboard.tv/2009/12/17/my-first-bleeps-a-beginner-s-guide-to-the-blip-festival-chipmusic-culture--2">Blip Festival</a>, the next logical step is obviously to jump on a Mega Bus and head to Virginia for four more days of alcoholism, hearing loss and sleep deprivation.
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<br/>I wont be alone, though  My pals from the Destructoid community will have a considerable presence at the Fest, traveling in packs from Maryland, New York, Boston and New Jersey. Somehow, amid all of this madness, Ill be playing two live shows and running an LSDJ/chipmusic workshop. Thats of course in addition to all of the other fabulous concerts, panels and special events occurring throughout the weekend.
<br/>Put simply, MAGFest is the ideal setting for what promises to be a truly epic NARP.
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<br/>And NARP we shall. Be sure to check the <a target="_blank" href="http://magfest.org">MAGFest website</a> for more details, and definitely consider showing up for a night or two if you live in the nearby area. As a 2-year MAGveteran, I can assure you that good times will be had.Community Blogs:158767Merry Chipmas: Four Holiday-themed Chiptune Albums - Zen AlbatrossZen Albatross2009-12-25T12:33:27Z2009-12-25T12:33:27ZEveryone knows that the holidays are meant to be a time for selflessness, love and celebration. And no one embodies the spirit of the season quite like the international chipmusic community, who year after year gift the general public with a giant Santa-sack of free music. Therefore, in keeping with tradition, I present to you four holiday-themed albums from a variety of chipmusicians that are sure to liven your holiday festivities with 8-bit cheer.
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<br/><strong>NEW ARRIVALS:</strong>
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<br/><strong><em>1. Rush Coil - 8-bit Christmas</em></strong>
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<br/>The newest addition to the internets growing library of 8-bit holiday albums, 8-bit Christmas features holiday favorites like Carol of the Bells, What Child Is This and Auld Lang Syne done over in the style of vintage console soundchips with a couple of interesting twists, of course. The album is streaming for free on Rush Coils website, and for a mere $4, you can download the whole thing in crystal-clear, DRM-free MP3 format. Whats more, all the proceeds from the albums sales are being donated to <a target="_blank" href="http://www.childsplaycharity.org/">Childs Play</a>, the childrens charity organization started by Gabe and Tycho of Penny Arcade.
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<br/><strong>Listen/Buy:</strong> <a target="_blank" href="http://www.8bitchristmas.com/">8-bit Christmas</a>
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<br/>2. <strong><em>V/A - 8bitcollective Advent Calendar</em></strong>
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<br/>This collection of holiday chiptune jams was assembled over the course of 24 days by artists on 8bitcollective.com, a community-based chipmusic media sharing site. It features some pretty hilarious permutations of holiday classics that certainly warrant downing a couple glasses of egg nog prior to listening. Stealthily slip a few of these tracks into your relatives holiday playlists during that boring family gathering and see what happens.
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<br/><strong>Download:</strong> <a target="_blank" href="http://8bitcollective.com/search.php?s=8bc+Advent+Calendar+2009">8bitcollective Advent Calendar</a>
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<br/><strong>GHOSTS OF CHIPMAS PAST:</strong>
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<br/><strong><em>3. Doctor Octoroc - 8-bit Jesus</em></strong>
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<br/><img src="http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_kv7831AhDg1qzp9qu.jpg"/>
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<br/>Last years lo-bit holiday hit is still going strong. Assembled by arrangement artist Doctor Octoroc, 8-bit Jesus re-imagines 9 holiday favorites using the compositional styles of classic videogame composers. With insane mash-ups like Carol of the Belmonts and We Three Konami, this ones sure to please holiday party-goers for years to come.
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<br/><strong>Download:</strong> <a target="_blank" href="http://www.8bitpeoples.com/discography/zip/8BP038">8-bit Jesus</a>
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<br/><strong><em>4. V/A - The 8 bits of Christmas</em></strong>
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<br/>Old-school 8bitpeoples! This album represents one of the earlier compilations of the artists on the 8bitpeoples netlabel. Hally, Bit Shifter, Nullsleep, Goto80, Yerzmyey, Vim, Paul Slocum and Dma-Sc deliver eight heavily-stylized jams that float and sparkle like the winter snow.
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<br/><strong>Download:</strong> <a target="_blank" href="http://www.8bitpeoples.com/discography/zip/8BP038">The 8 Bits of Christmas</a>
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<br/>---
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<br/>My dearest Destructoiders: Have a safe and pleasant holiday season, and a joyous New Year. See you in 2010!Community Blogs:156825Countdown to Blip Festival 2009 - Zen AlbatrossZen Albatross2009-12-04T08:44:53Z2009-12-04T08:44:53Z<img src="http://bulk2.destructoid.com/ul/user/1/19247-156825-blipfestival2009logoblackjpg-620x.jpg"/>
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<br/>Its spreading. Slowly but surely, its infecting all of us. Can you feel it? No, not that weird rash on your inner thigh. Thats gross. In fact, you should probably get that checked out. Im talking about <em>Blip Fever</em>, a highly metaphorical sickness Ive made up for the purposes of this blog. Symptoms include dancing uncontrollably at random, vivid pixelated dreams and listening to <a target="_blank" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VuBKuYMqtgQ">this</a> on repeat while laying in the fetal position in an empty corner of your bedroom. Okay, that last part was totally unrelated, but it doesnt change the fact that <strong>Blip Festival is less than 2 weeks away</strong> and needless to say, things are getting pretty gosh-darn exciting.
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<br/>Psilodump, Patric Catani, glomag and Eat Rabbit have filled the remaining spaces in the lineup, giving us a grand total of 32 performers at this years lo-fi festivities. And thanks to nearly 100 devoted supporters, this years Blip Festival has been fully funded through a fundraising campaign on Kickstarter, exceeding their $5,000 goal within a matter of days.
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<br/>If youre new to this sort of thing, heres a brief history lesson: The chipmusic movement started in the late 90s when a small handful of programmers began creating and performing music using the sound chips found in obsolete videogame consoles and computer hardware. Catalyzed by the distribution of homebrew software that makes these manipulations possible, chipmusic has catapulted itself out of basements and onto the stage, with hundreds of artists now incorporating 8-bit hardware into live musical performances. Now in its 4th year, Blip Fest is at the forefront of this movement, and continues to impress audiences time and time again.
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<br/>This is the one event that truly encapsulates what chipmusic is all about. Whether youre a veteran of the scene or just discovering what chipmusic is by reading this post, its definitely worth your while to journey to The Bell House in Brooklyn, NY on December 17th19th and see what all the fuss is about. Check <a target="_blank" href="http://www.blipfestival.org">BlipFestival.org</a> to find more info and buy tickets.
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Community Blogs:156780Free 'Autumntunes' chip compo now available on Ubiktune - Zen AlbatrossZen Albatross2009-12-03T19:30:25Z2009-12-03T19:30:25Z<img src="http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ku37jwBUCd1qzp9qu.jpg"/>
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<br/>The holidays are almost upon us, but before you deck the halls and bust out the egg nog, why not spend the last few days of Autumn reflecting on brisk winds and golden brown falling leaves with 'Autumntunes,' a seasonal chipmusic compilation available for free on <a target="_blank" href="http://ubiktune.org/release/011/">Ubiktune</a>.
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<br/>The compilation features some fantastic new music from Jake 'virt' Kaufman, Alex Mauer, Zan-zan-zawa-veia, Syphus, Shnabubula, C-jeff and more. If you like what you hear -- and I'm certain you will -- be sure to check out the rest of <a target="_blank" href="http://ubiktune.org/release/">Ubiktune's catalog</a> for more free music from great chip artists.Community Blogs:155966Twitter-trending for fun and profit: #stackyourgadgets for great justice - Zen AlbatrossZen Albatross2009-11-23T21:09:38Z2009-11-23T21:09:38ZEarlier today, I started an experiment of sorts. I wanted to see what all the gadgets I carry around look like when they're stacked on top of each other. It looked like this:
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<br/><img src="http://20.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ktji6tcJVl1qzolb9o1_500.jpg"/>
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<br/>From top to bottom:
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<br/> * HTC Droid Eris
<br/> * iPod Touch 8GB, 1st Gen (w/ black case)
<br/> * Nintendo DS Lite +R4 homebrew cart
<br/> * Nintendo Game Boy (DMG-01) + homebrew USB cart
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<br/>Unsatisfied with my shitty laptop camera photo, I wanted more. I wanted to see what kind of electronic arsenal everyone else was carrying around, preferably with better photographic equipment. So I posted on <a target="_blank" href="http://www.twitter.com/zenalbatross">Twitter</a>, telling my followers to <strong>#stackyourgadgets</strong>.
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<br/>Destructoid delivered.
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<br/><strong>Topher:</strong>
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<br/><strong>Electro Lemon:</strong>
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<br/><img src="http://bulk2.destructoid.com/ul/user/1/19247-155966-lemonjpg-620x.jpg"/>
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<br/><strong>.tiff:</strong> (fatPod sandwich!)
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<br/><strong>Stella Wong:</strong>
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<br/><strong>Cataract:</strong> (NGPC!)
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<br/><strong>Wexx:</strong>
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<br/><strong>PrettyGoodLam:</strong>
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<br/><img src="http://img162.yfrog.com/img162/8969/tl1.jpg"/>
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<br/><strong>Rich Vreeland:</strong> (sweet guitar pedal!)
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<br/>This is a call to arms, comrades. Let's make this shit trend. Stack your gaming/phone/media gadgets and post them on Twitter with the <strong>#stackyourgadgets</strong> hashtag. I'll be posting more as they appear.
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<br/>THE WHEEL OF FATE IS TURNING.
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<br/>DO IT. <p class="post-photos">
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Community Blogs:155827Get to know your Blip Fest '09 performers, hear free samples - Zen AlbatrossZen Albatross2009-11-22T17:11:23Z2009-11-22T17:11:23Z<img src="http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_kthnetNCve1qzp9qu.png"/>
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<br/>New Yorks Blip Festival is bringing us one heck of a lineup this year. But if youre new to 8-bit music (or even if you arent), you might be feeling a bit lost at this point. Just who are these talented weirdos making all this rad music and visual art with Game Boys and Nintendos and Commodores? Well, Blip Festivals official Blip Blog (brought to you by <a target="_blank" href="http://www.truechiptilldeath.com/">TCTD</a>) gives you the answers you seek with <a target="_blank" href="http://blipfestival.org/2009/blog/">BlipTalk</a>, a series of artist profiles aimed at giving you a look into the minds of Blip Festivals performers. So far, weve been treated to interviews with musicians <a target="_blank" href="http://bit.ly/2VlCGt">Disasterpeace</a> and <a target="_blank" href="http://bit.ly/21TPt3">RainbowDragonEyes</a>, as well as visual artists <a target="_blank" href="http://bit.ly/3tcpv3">Jean Y. Kim</a> and Julian from <a target="_blank" href="http://bit.ly/3eXd3K">The C-Men</a>.
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<br/>And since some would argue that reading words is going out of style, you can also <a target="_blank" href="http://blipfestival.bandcamp.com/">hear samples</a> of the artists by visiting Blip Festivals new page on Band Camp. Or just hit play on the neat-o applet that Ive conveniently provided for you below.
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<br/>Check my <a target="_blank" href="http://zenalbatross.tumblr.com">other blog</a> for more Blip Festival updates, and go <a target="_blank" href="http://blipfestival.org/2009/schedule">buy your gosh-darn tickets</a> if you haven't already.Community Blogs:1550348STATIC show this weekend in Philly | Trash80  glomag  Animal Style  enso - Zen AlbatrossZen Albatross2009-11-13T07:19:03Z2009-11-13T07:19:03Z<img src="http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_kt19w3Sx991qzp9qu.png"/>
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<br/>Philadelphias premiere chipmusic showcase, 8static returns to Studio 34 tomorrow night with one heck of a lineup:
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<br/>From New York City, the bardic melodies of <a target="_blank" href="http://www.glomag.com">glomag</a> will rock your soul and warm your heart. And theyll probably make you want to dance too.
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<br/>Phillys own <a target="_blank" href="http://filefreakout.com/animalstyle/">Animal Style</a> returns to the stage once more. Armed with a guitar, keyboards and a hacked Sega Genesis, Animal Styles music is a chiptune tour de force that will literally melt your brain. Literally. (Please bring a reflective head covering to prevent actual brain-melting)
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<br/>And finally, chipmusic legend and recent <a target="_blank" href="http://www.databeez.com/">Data Beez</a> performer <a target="_blank" href="http://trash80.net/">Trash80</a> is bringing some West Coast style so fresh that it might help Philadelphia forget about losing the World Series this year. HEY-OOOO! (Just kidding, I dont actually care about Baseball)
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<br/>All of this will be accompanied by live visuals courtesy of <a target="_blank" href="http://openemu.sourceforge.net/">Dan Winckler</a> and <a target="_blank" href="http://enso.tumblr.com/">enso</a>.
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<br/>Come early for Open Mic and an OpenEmu workshop, presented by Dan Winckler. I'll be there, and so should you! Visit <a target="_blank" href="http://www.8static.com">8static.com</a> for more info.
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<br/><strong>8static 0C</strong>
<br/><strong>11.14.09</strong>
<br/><strong>@Studio 34</strong>
<br/><strong>4522 Baltimore Ave</strong>
<br/><strong>Philadelphia, PA</strong>
<br/><strong>7PM</strong>
<br/><strong>$5 w/flyer, $8 without</strong>
<br/><strong>ALL AGES</strong>Community Blogs:154876Hidden Gems: The Best Undiscovered Game Boy/GBC Games - Zen AlbatrossZen Albatross2009-11-11T17:57:06Z2009-11-11T17:57:06Z<a target="_blank" href="http://www.racketboy.com/retro/2009/11/best-undiscovered-gameboy-game-boy-color-games.html"><img src="http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ksvdkxuJMq1qzp9qu.jpg"/></a>
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<br/>Every videogame console has them: Under-appreciated, neglected games that otherwise would have fallen into the dark abyss of obscurity were it not for a small group of dedicated (and sometimes borderline-fanatical) fans. With this firmly in mind, I've teamed up with Racketboy to bring you a concise list of overlooked titles for the Game Boy and Game Boy Color. Read below for a few synopses from the article, which you can find in its entirety at <a target="_blank" href="http://www.racketboy.com/retro/2009/11/best-undiscovered-gameboy-game-boy-color-games.html">Racketboy.com</a>.
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<br/><span style="font-size:18px;"><strong>Kid Dracula</strong></span>
<br/><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2616/4065119600_cf9ab492cf_m.jpg"/>
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<br/>In addition to being a solid platformer, this commonly overlooked title is possibly the only game on the Game Boy that is a straight-up parody of another series. Kid Dracula is a spin-off of the Castlevania series that was originally released for the Famicom in Japan, then ported to the Game Boy in 1993. Instead of taking on the usual heroic role of a Belmont clan member, the protagonist is a lovable, pint-sized version of the Vampire Lord himself who is tasked with combating his rival, the demon Garamoth. It sounds like just another day in the life of the near-infinitely powerful Lord of Darkness. Unfortunately for you, our young scatterbrained Master of Evil has forgotten all of his magic spells and must re-learn them throughout the course of his adventure.
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<br/>Kid Dracula is a pretty standard platformer, through and through. The player traverses through 8 levels of baddies, obstacles and bosses, gaining new powers along the way such as homing missiles, shield, gravity reversal and summoning bats. The powers are fun to use and the game makes sure to put you in situations where your full repertoire will come in handy. Kid Draculas true charm, however lies in its light-hearted parody of the Castlevania series traditionally dark setting  Standard baddies from Castlevania re-appear as adorable cartoon versions of themselves. The Grandpa Ghost Boss at the end of Stage 1 falls asleep during the fight. You might even recognize the games main antagonist, Garamoth as a boss in the later-released Castlevania: Symphony of Night. The music also pays tribute to the Castlevania games: Listen closely to the song in the first stage  Its Bloodlines, the Stage 1 music from Castlevania III, re-written in an upbeat major key. The whole game reeks of silliness, and it works incredibly well, making Kid Dracula one of the most entertaining parody/spin-off games youll likely ever play on a handheld system.
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<br/>As a spin-off, Kid Dracula easily surpasses novelty status and proves to be a truly satisfying romp. If youre a fan of the Castlevania series, you owe it to yourself to try out this Hidden Gem. The cartridge is also relatively rare, so dont you dare hesitate picking this baby up if you happen to see lying it lying around at your local flea market/thrift store.
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<br/><span style="font-size:18px;"><strong>Avenging Spirit</strong></span>
<br/><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2727/4086283594_e113fe0f6f_m.jpg"/>
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<br/>Dont be fooled by its light-hearted appearance  The story behind Jalecos Avenging Spirit is actually pretty grisly: A young man who was gunned down by a gang of mysterious assailants has returned to the realm of the living to defeat the evil crime syndicate that killed him and captured his girlfriend. Luckily for our protagonist, being a ghost has its advantages  He can now possess the bodies of his enemies, each of whom have different abilities that will help him take down the syndicates evil bosses. Among those you can possess are gun-wielding gangsters, martial arts masters and fire-breathing uh, kangaroos? Or maybe theyre suppose to be dinosaurs? Whatever.
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<br/>Anyway, when the character youve possessed kicks the bucket, youll turn back into a ghost. When in ghost form, your energy bar will begin to drain. Youll need to possess someone else quickly, otherwise your spirit will pass into the afterlife unavenged. Considering the heavy subject matter, the cutesy graphics in this game are a pretty hilarious (and slightly disturbing) aesthetic choice. Especially the continue screen, which shows the adorable ghost staring at you with sad puppy eyes, silently imploring you to help him rain vengeance and death upon his enemies. Avenging Spirit is a solid platformer with strategic elements and some interesting mechanics that were pretty ahead of their time. Highly recommended.
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<br/><span style="font-size:18px;"><strong>Blaster Master Boy / Jr. / Bomber King 2</strong></span>
<br/><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2672/4065475246_459a6d3da1_m.jpg"/>
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<br/>This pint-sized spin-off of Blaster Master is peculiar in that the gameplay is more reminiscent of Hudson Softs Bomberman series than the original 1988 NES classic. Jason, our protagonist from the first game has returned, but this time it seems hes ditched his beloved car, SOPHIA III. Luckily, Jason has compensated for his lack of wheels by keeping his blaster, a handful of powerups and an infinite stockpile of bombs at his side. Blaster Master Boy (known as Blaster Master Jr. in Europe) eschews the platforming elements of the original game in lieu of a top-down run-and-gun dynamic similar to the dungeon sequences from the original NES title. The similarities to Bomberman become pretty obvious after a few minutes of playing, but thats not necessarily a bad thing.
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<br/>As it turns out, Blaster Master Boy was originally supposed to be released as Bomber King: Scenario 2, the sequel to a Japanese Famicom title released in the US as Robo Warrior. To avoid any disputes with Hudson, Sunsoft re-branded the game as a Blaster Master title. Okay, so its not really Blaster Master at all, but lets be frank  At the end of the day, blowing stuff up is just plain fun. The music is pretty fantastic as well. As long as youre not bothered by the diminished variety of gameplay, this Hidden Gem is definitely worth a spot in your Game Boy collection.
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<br/><span style="font-size:18px;"><strong>Blaster Master: Enemy Below</strong></span>
<br/><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2659/4065247967_2d3b02bfe6_m.jpg"/>
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<br/>Now this is more like it. While Blaster Master Boy/Jr. isnt really a Blaster Master game at all, Blaster Master: Enemy Below for the Game Boy Color is a welcome return to the classic gameplay youd expect from a title of this series. The game starts right where the original left off: After an unexpectedly brief holiday, Jason and his trusty tank SOPHIA III are called back into action when a science experiment gone wrong unleashes a new Plutonium Boss upon the world. This new Boss, cowardly as he is, once again establishes dominion over Earths cavernous underworld in preparation for his attack on humanity.
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<br/>The games graphics, controls and gameplay are all nearly identical to its predecessor. Gamers familiar enough with the original might even feel as if theyre playing the exact same game. Still, with new dungeons, new weapons, crisp graphics and a new password save system, Enemy Below offers just enough variety to warrant a playthrough for any fan of the series. Despite its lack of innovation, its without a doubt the most authentic classic Blaster Master experience you can have on a portable console.
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<br/><span style="font-size:18px;"><strong>Magical Chase</strong></span>
<br/><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2765/4069653699_ca5d6e4e04_m.jpg"/>
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<br/>A fantastic port of the PC Engine shoot-em-up of the same name, Magical Chase is a light-hearted Japan-only shooter released by Quest in 1991. Its part of an odd sub-genre that fans have affectionately dubbed cute-em-up, a game where starships and laser cannons are replaced by more cuddly and charming elements (In this case, adolescent broom-riding witches).
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<br/>Instead of the usual unforgiving, one-hit-kill mechanics, you have a life bar which slowly depletes as you take enemy fire, very similar to in games like Castle Shikigami. You can also buy health and weapon upgrades periodically during missions, making getting hit and losing lives much less punishing than in other games.
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<br/>True to its pleasant and approachable visage, Magical Chase eschews the insane difficulty levels common in most shmups and focuses instead on simply being an enjoyable pocket title with good controls and lovable characters. And since Im absolutely horrendous at most shmups, thats something that I can easily get behind.
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<br/><span style="font-size:18px;"><strong>Quarth</strong></span>
<br/><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3477/4069653777_7df1facc33_m.jpg"/>
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<br/>This peculiar shooter boasts a style of gameplay thats as much akin to Space Invaders as it is to Tetris. Instead of warding off aliens with laser blasts, your goal here is to shoot at the tetrimino-like objects falling from the top of the screen, eliminating blocks by filling them in to form complete rectangular shapes. It sounds simple enough, but the game can get pretty intense as L-shaped blocks nestled within each other begin to drop faster and faster, forcing you to quickly find the order in which the blocks must be filled.
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<br/>If youre especially daring, you can fill the screen and create larger rectangles for more points. But if at any point an incomplete rectangle hits the bottom, its Game Over for you and your odd-looking spacecraft. The game allows you to choose from 6 different ships, but the choice seems to be purely aesthetic. Theres also a two player mode possible with the Game Boys link cable. Definitely check this one out if youre a fan of arcade games like Arkanoid or fast-paced puzzlers like Tetris.
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<br/><span style="font-size:18px;"><strong>Vattle Giuce</strong></span>
<br/><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2688/4070413444_bf0e85f79d_m.jpg"/>
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<br/>No, its not Beetlejuices cousin or the name of a weird German fetish club. But it is a pretty solid Japanese shooter for Game Boy. Vattle Giuce never saw the light of day outside of Japan, but it has a couple of features that make it noteworthy within the Game Boys sizable library.
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<br/>The gameplay is classic top-down shooter, similar to games like 1942, except your craft is also allowed to switch between two different altitudes. This allows you to avoid enemy fire and hit ground targets that yield valuable power-ups, but also puts you in danger of crashing into the low structures existing in the background.
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<br/>The game also sports some impressive parallax layer scrolling and detailed (albeit repetitive) backgrounds. Conversely, the games enemies are highly predictable and quite frankly, really boring to look at. Each new stage seems to be populated by slightly varying cookie cutter replacements of all the enemies from the last stage. I dont know why, but it seems like whoever was in charge of the enemy graphics was just really uninspired.
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<br/><span style="font-size:18px;"><strong>Sagaia</strong></span>
<br/><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3488/4069654027_66658985be_m.jpg"/>
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<br/>If youre looking for a pocket-sized Darius for Game Boy, youre not going to get much better than Sagaia. This should come as no surprise being as how its actually a port of Darius II, the magnificent Taito shooter originally released for Sega Genesis in the early 90s. This game has everything you want in a portable shooter: Frantic enemy patterns, highly detailed sprites, a kickin soundtrack and even that iconic PEW PEW sound effect for maximum retro pleasure.
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<br/>And dont forget that totally rad cyber-nautical theme. Everything about the game is just extremely satisfying, both visually and gameplay-wise. Highly recommended if you dig on any of those old Taito games. Dont pass up a chance to snatch this cartridge should you happen upon it.
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<br/><span style="font-size:18px;"><strong>Bubble Ghost</strong></span>
<br/><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2698/4074595696_5e219c5181_m.jpg"/>
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<br/>The Game Boy version of this arcade classic is not something to be overlooked. Originally released on the Atari ST back in 1987, Bubble Ghost is a simple and addictive game that gives players control of a gleeful ghost whose sole charge is to guide a bubble through a danger-filled haunted house. Its a delicate mission, but fortunately for you, your phantasmal friend has a great deal of control over his bubble and can blow it around in 8 different directions. As basic as this sounds, the game is actually very challenging, and it will require a great deal of patience and planning in order to circumvent the malignant ghouls, fans, candles and all manner of pointy objects found within the halls of the haunted house.
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<br/>If youre the easily-addicted type, a casual afternoon with Bubble Ghost will almost certainly lead to full-on obsession. Its got all the traits of a classic arcade game  challenging and rewarding in all the right ways. Its also got an upbeat and extremely catchy soundtrack, composed by the now-famous Hitoshi Sakimoto (Final Fantasy Tactics, Ogre Battle, Radiant Silvergun). Bubble Ghost is a game that suits the Game Boy platform perfectly, catering to both competitive speedrunners and casual time-killers.
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<br/><strong>&gt;&gt;<a target="_blank" href="http://www.racketboy.com/retro/2009/11/best-undiscovered-gameboy-game-boy-color-games.html">Read the full article here</a></strong>Community Blogs:154443Indie Quickie: 'How Many Stars' was made in a day - Zen AlbatrossZen Albatross2009-11-07T15:38:38Z2009-11-07T15:38:38Z<img src="http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_kspclrfwsh1qzp9qu.png"/>
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<br/><a target="_blank" href="http://www.crystallabs.com/howmanystars.html">How Many Stars</a> is a game made by intrepid programmer and Destructoid community member <a target="_blank" href="http://www.destructoid.com/blogs/pixelpunx">Pixelpunx</a> (High Strangeness, STFUAJPGM) in 24 hours. The music is by Rich Vreeland (aka <a target="_blank" href="http://www.disasterpeace.com">Disasterpeace</a>), and was written within the same timeframe. Download it for free! (PC Only)
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<br/><strong>Download:</strong> <a target="_blank" href="http://crystallabs.com/hms/howmanystars.zip">How Many Stars</a>Community Blogs:154047Quite possibly the best Amazon customer review ever (Borderlands) - Zen AlbatrossZen Albatross2009-11-03T19:21:53Z2009-11-03T19:21:53Z<img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2009/08/borderlandsfinal580.jpg"/>
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<br/><a target="_blank" href="http://www.amazon.com/review/R2S1Z6XRLB7OWJ/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm"><span style="font-size:18px;"><em>i got game n kil rat mutate over n over untl bad dude kil me ouch. i like game lot n rats r cool n stuff wen thety mutate n try to kill me daed ouch! It ok to play n shoot bad dude n i get game n tell u to get game to kil rat an bad dudes in ur guns u kill rat. Ok great good but no ok good great just ok good great good. Get.</em></span></a>
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<br/>And just like that, any remaining doubt you once had about purchasing Borderlands is gone. Thank you and good night.Community Blogs:153774Giant Robot & Attract Mode hosting West Coast Chiptunes Micro Tour - Zen AlbatrossZen Albatross2009-11-01T13:28:59Z2009-11-01T13:28:59Z<img src="http://5.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ksfkg8c2os1qz59yco1_500.gif"/>
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<br/>Evidence found on ancient stones suggests that the rivalry between the East and West Coast chipmusic scenes dates back to primordial days, when Game Boys were made of rocks and used as weapons against hungry Velociraptors. Now, after a millennia-long standstill, New York ambassadors minusbaby and Paris Treantafeles will be embarking on a diplomatic mission to the hostile West to join its natives in a <a target="_blank" href="http://databeez.com">chipmusic micro tour</a>.
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<br/>The tour kicks off on November 7th in Los Angeles, with a chipmusic workshop at the Japanese American National Museum, presented by the fine folks from <a target="_blank" href="http://www.attractmo.de">Attract Mode</a>. Afterwards, head over to the Chop Suey Cafe for a live show featuring Trash80, minusbaby, StarPause and Crashfaster with visuals by Daniel Rehn and Paris.
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<br/>The boys will also be making appearances in San Francisco and Seattle in the coming weeks. Check <a target="_blank" href="http://databeez.com">Databeez.com</a> for more details.Community Blogs:153745Happy Halloween! OCRemix releases Castlevania: Sonata of the Damned - Zen AlbatrossZen Albatross2009-10-31T22:06:00Z2009-10-31T22:06:00Z<img src="http://vgmdb.net/db/assets/covers-medium/16120-1257031012.png"/>
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<br/>Since everyone I know had their awesome Halloween parties yesterday, I'm currently cooped up in my quaint Brooklyn apartment, still hung over from last night, watching horror movies and slowly working my way towards a candy-induced diabetic coma. If you're finding yourself in a similar situation, you'll be happy to know that OverClocked ReMix is serving up a Halloween treat of their own, and it's way better than those nasty candy corn things (which I'm still convinced were all made prior to 1986). Enter the latest OverClocked remix project, 'Castlevania: Sonata of the Damned.'
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<br/>Arranged, performed and mixed by the insanely talented <a target="_blank" href="http://jmflava.com/">Joshua Morse</a>, Sonata of the Damned offers 7 tracks of re-imagined Castlevania music, including tracks from <em>Dracula's Curse</em>, <em>Symphony of the Night</em> and even some of the newer titles like <em>Portrait of Ruin</em> and <em>Order of Ecclessia</em>. Go to the project's <a target="_blank" href="http://sotd.ocremix.org/">official site</a> and download it for free.
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<br/><strong>Download: <a target="_blank" href="http://bt.ocremix.org/torrents/Castlevania_-_Sonata_of_the_Damned.torrent">Torrent</a></strong>
<br/><strong>Download: <a target="_blank" href="http://sotd.ocremix.org/#download">OverClocked Remix</a></strong>Community Blogs:153332Machinima series This Spartan Life needs your help! - Zen AlbatrossZen Albatross2009-10-27T18:38:39Z2009-10-27T18:38:39Z[embed]153332:24207[/embed]
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<br/>Created in 2005 by Chris Burke (also known by his chipmusic alias Glomag), This Spartan Life is a talk show set inside an unpredictable (and generally explodey) game of Halo. TSL regularly hosts a variety of segments including guest interviews, political debates (with rocket launchers) and synchronized dance routines set to the hottest chiptune jams. Past guests have included Bungie lead composer Marty ODonnell, Red Vs Blue creator Bernie Burns and former Sex Pistols manager Malcolm McLaren. A new season of the award-winning series is now on the horizon, and its creators need your help to make it a reality.
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<br/>Of course, your generosity wont go unrewarded: Your contributions to the project make you eligible for a number of neat prizes, including a chance at a virtual in-game date with Amber of the Solid Gold Elite Dancers, who may or may not interpret date as burning your face off with a plasma sword.
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<br/>Head over to <a target="_blank" href="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1948944779/this-spartan-life-award-winning-video-series-new">TSLs page on Kickstarter</a> for more info, and if youre unfamiliar with the series, check out the <a target="_blank" href="http://www.thisspartanlife.com/episodes.php">official website</a> for past episodes, all available for free.Community Blogs:153067Xenogears remix album 'Humans + Gears' now available - Zen AlbatrossZen Albatross2009-10-25T12:43:11Z2009-10-25T12:43:11Z[embed]153067:24113[/embed]
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<br/>The good ol' folks at OverClocked ReMix are at it again, and this time they're paying tribute to one of the industry's greatest composers, Yasunori Mitsuda, with this fantastic re-envisioning of the music from the 1998 Squaresoft RPG classic, Xenogears. The album combines sweeping orchestral arrangements with driving electronic beats and features compositions by a plethora of profusely talented OverClocked artists, such as Geoffrey Taucer, LEVEL 99, Oinkness, Chipp Damage, Prophet of Mephisto and many more.
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<br/>The release marks OverClocked ReMix's 15th album project, and can be downloaded for free from <a target="_blank" href="http://ocremix.org/album/15/humans-plus-gears-xenogears-remixed">OCRemix.org</a> -- And while you're there, check out some of OCRemix's other recent projects, like Final Fantasy IV's 'Echoes of Betrayal, Light of Redemption.'
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<br/><strong>DOWNLOAD: '<a target="_blank" href="http://ocremix.org/album/15/humans-plus-gears-xenogears-remixed">Humans + Gears: Xenogears Remixed</a>'</strong>Community Blogs:152288I Wanna Hold Your Handheld: Beatles chiptune tribute album released - Zen AlbatrossZen Albatross2009-10-17T12:06:12Z2009-10-17T12:06:12Z[embed]152288:23776[/embed]
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<br/>Since the Beatles-hating Hamza neglected to post anything about this, I'm taking control to make sure you folks are aware of this amazing compilation by chipmusic collective 8-bit Operators. '<a target="_blank" href="http://8bitoperators.bandcamp.com">WANNA HLD YR HANDHLD Vol. 1</a>' is a compilation album that pays homage to the timeless artistry of the Fab Four by re-envisioning their classic sound on antiquated videogame hardware. Nearly 2 years in the making, the album features 16 tracks by members of the world's chiptune elite, including Bubblyfish, minusbaby, Anamanaguchi, Glomag, The Depreciation Guild, Aonami, GOTO80, Herbert Weixelbaum and more.
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<br/>You can hear the whole album for free at the <a target="_blank" href="http://8bitoperators.bandcamp.com">8-Bit Operators Bandcamp website</a>. Physical copies and a downloadable version will be arriving soon, so keep your your eyes peeled at the <a target="_blank" href="http://www.8bitoperators.com/beatles">8-Bit Operators website</a>.
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<br/>Check above to see the music video for GOTO80's super-trippy C64 rendition of 'Come Together, ' done entirely in PETSCII (a variation of ASCII). Sing-along included!Community Blogs:150149UKers rejoice: Chiptune Alliance Tour 2009 is underway - Zen AlbatrossZen Albatross2009-09-27T12:09:44Z2009-09-27T12:09:44Z<a target="_blank" href="http://www.myspace.com/chiptunealliance"><img src="http://bulk2.destructoid.com/ul/user/1/19247-150149-chiptunealliancepng-620x.jpg"/></a>
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<br/>In addition to The IT Crowd and calling pants trousers, UK residents have one more thing to be proud of this week: The Chiptune Alliance Tour is officially underway, bringing with it an onslaught of the worlds top chipmusic talent. Spots in Bournemouth, Newport, Sheffield, Liverpool, Edinburgh and Glasgow will be assaulted by the sweet squarewaves of <strong>Fighter X</strong>, <strong>Goto80</strong>, <strong>Henry Homesweet</strong> and <strong>Sabrepulse</strong>.
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<br/>The Alliance takes on the <a target="_blank" href="http://www.last.fm/venue/8880870">iBar</a> in Bournemouth tonight, so make sure not to miss it if youre nearby. Check the <a target="_blank" href="http://www.myspace.com/chiptunealliance">offical tour website</a> for a complete list of tour dates and venue information. Oi! <p class="post-photos">
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Community Blogs:149803Magical Game Boys: Full video recap of Lo-Tek Resistance at PAX 09 - Zen AlbatrossZen Albatross2009-09-24T14:25:25Z2009-09-24T14:25:25Z[embed]149803:22895[/embed]
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<br/>While at this year's Penny Arcade Expo in Seattle, Aaron Campion of <a target="_blank" href="http://www.crunchyco.com">Crunchy Co Records</a> captured a ton of footage from the streetside chiptune jam session known as Lo-Tek Resistance. There were a record-shattering 13 performers in total this year, including Fighter X, Circles, Spamtron, Infradead, McFiredrill, Seanbad, A.R.Y., Knife City, Go Motion and DeepEarthVoid. Oh yeah, and some 'Albatross' guy, but pay him no mind. He seems like a total dick.
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<br/>Check the video above to see a full recap of the performances in the latest installment of Crunchy Co's episodic web series.Community Blogs:149195PAX Indie Spotlight: What is Bothering Carl? - Zen AlbatrossZen Albatross2009-09-19T11:26:09Z2009-09-19T11:26:09Z<img src="http://bulk2.destructoid.com/ul/user/1/19247-149195-tumblrkq64rwXBFH1qzolb9o1500jpg-620x.jpg"/>
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<br/>Despite the enormous number of games exhibited earlier this month at Seattles Penny Arcade Expo, only one of them could claim the description of interactive childrens storybook. Created by toymaker, artist and programmer Andy Hull, What is Bothering Carl? is a game that seems to make perfect sense in the year 2009, where a generation that was once raised on interactive entertainment now dons the mantle of parenthood. I spoke with Andy about the game, our favorite kids books and the future of childrens entertainment within the realm of videogames.
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<br/>It might have been made with kids in mind, but anyone who had a favorite book as a kid can probably relate to What is Bothering Carl?, an interactive storybook game about a flustered cyclops who lives amongst giants, humans and dancing chickens. Its vibrantly illustrated interactive pages hearken back to the days of talking electronic storybooks, where kids built basic language skills through audible recognition of narrative elements. Im certainly not the first person to do a digital storybook, but I am pushing towards consoles and towards the gamer crowd with these things in mind, says Andy, whose digital publishing company, Story Fort opened up shop earlier this year.
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<br/>Inspired by a wide array of memorable childrens literature, Andy hopes that the game-makers of today will one day stand on level ground with the likes of Shel Silverstein, Maurice Sendak and Dr. Seuss. I was really into drawing and art as a kid, so one of my favorites was Harold and the Purple Crayon he recalls, drawing comparisons between the books thematic emphasis on imagination and the role of user-generated content in todays games. I really think someone needs to make Harold and the Purple Crayon, the computer game.
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<br/>Story Fort maintains that their goals are a logical next step for both games and educational products, and hopes to delight a whole new generation of kids with their digital storybooks. What is Bothering Carl? is currently only available for the PC, but Andy has plans to release Story Fort products on more platforms in the near future, including Xbox Live. I think theres definitely going to be more of this kind of thing. More and more gamers are now having kids that are getting to be the right age and handing them controllers, so this is going to grow, theres no doubt about it.
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<br/>What is Bothering Carl? is available now for $9.99 at Story Forts website. Thanks so much to Andy for speaking with me! <p class="post-photos">
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Community Blogs:148745Attract Modes gaming culture shop opens - Zen AlbatrossZen Albatross2009-09-15T15:35:27Z2009-09-15T15:35:27Z<img src="http://bulk2.destructoid.com/ul/user/1/19247-148745-attractmojpg-620x.jpg"/>
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<br/>Super-rad videogame culture blog Attract Mode has finally opened its online shop, offering an abundance of quality game-related art, apparel, music and other assorted sundries.
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<br/>Some items of note:
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<br/> * Life-size prints by pixel artist Craig D. Adams, aka <a target="_blank" href="http://superbrothers.ca/">Superbrothers</a>
<br/> * Tetris block icecube trays
<br/> * CDs from notable chiptune artists including Leeni, Alex Mauer and Anamanaguchi
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<br/>Okay, no more window-shopping. Head on over to the <a target="_blank" href="http://attractmo.de/shop/">store</a> and buy something, will ya! <p class="post-photos">
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Community Blogs:148443MAGFest announces partial lineup: Armcannon, Metroid Metal confirmed - Zen AlbatrossZen Albatross2009-09-13T09:37:18Z2009-09-13T09:37:18Z<img src="http://14.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_kpw7cowDQs1qzolb9o1_500.jpg"/>
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<br/>There is no doubt in my mind that if you are attending Northern Virginias Music & Games Festival this year, your face will be thoroughly rocked off. Of course, having already attended two MAGFests, I was fairly confident in this even before the festivals organizers confirmed the first two amazing acts that will be playing at MAGFest VIII this coming January.
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<br/>The first is <a target="_blank" href="http://www.metroidmetal.com/">Metroid Metal</a>, who recently headlined at the Penny Arcade Expo in Seattle. Led by the insanely talented videogame arrangement artist Stemage, Metroid Metal is an energized re-interpretation of Hip Tanakas legendary soundtrack for the classic NES title of the same name. You can hear their latest release, Varia Suite for free at their <a target="_blank" href="http://metroidmetal.bandcamp.com/">official site on Bandcamp</a>.
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<br/>When last I checked, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.armcannon.com">Armcannon</a> were being referred to (deservingly) as  the Dream Theater of videogame cover bands. With their newest release, Return of the Attack of the Legend of Pizzor hot off the presses, the boys from Buffalo will be coming to MAGFest packing an arsenal of new material that goes far beyond anything youd expect from a videogame music cover.
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<br/>If these things sound like your cup of tea, dont waste your time dilly-dallying: Head on over to <a target="_blank" href="http://www.magfest.org">MAGFests official website</a> and pre-register for the event. Stay tuned for more updates in the months leading up to the festival.Community Blogs:146493Super-special PULSEWAVE show this weekend - Zen AlbatrossZen Albatross2009-08-28T11:05:57Z2009-08-28T11:05:57Z<img src="http://www.pulsewavenyc.com/files/pulsewave-aug_09.gif"/>
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<br/>The folks over at The Tank and 8bitpeoples have one hell of a show planned for New York chipmusic fans this weekend. This Saturday, an onslaught of international chiptune talent will converge in Manhattans Hells Kitchen for a very special PULSEWAVE event.
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<br/>Attendees will be treated to live performances from Swedish Game Boy superstar <a target="_blank" href="http://www.covox.net/">Covox</a>, Nanolooping Montreal native <a target="_blank" href="http://www.myspace.com/touchboy">Touchboy</a>, folksy chip minstrel <a target="_blank" href="http://www.budmelvin.com/">Bud Melvin</a> and South By Southwest veterans <a target="_blank" href="http://www.casttv.com/video/4lxml8/8bk-ok-at-sxsw-2009-video">8BK-ok</a>. But thats not all  There will also be a chiptune open mic, DJ sets from Natty and C-tor, visuals by Jean Y. Kim, David Mauro and V-Blank and one more special screening of the chipmusic documentary <em>Reformat The Planet</em> from our friends at <a target="_blank" href="http://www.2playerproductions.com/">2 Player Productions</a> before they permanently ship off to the West Coast.
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<br/>The party starts at 7PM at The Tank, 354 W 45th St, between 8th & 9th Ave. Open mic is at 8PM, followed by the first act at 9:30PM. More info is at the official <a target="_blank" href="http://pulsewavenyc.com/content/pulsewave-082909-covox-bud-melvin-touchboy-8bk-ok-jyk-vblank-dave-mauro">PULSEWAVE website</a>. Dont miss it!Community Blogs:145920High Strangeness soundtrack preview is free on Pause Music - Zen AlbatrossZen Albatross2009-08-25T07:43:17Z2009-08-25T07:43:17Z<img src="http://crystallabs.com/iimusic/iimusicPost.png"/>
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<br/>In anticipation of the upcoming indie adventure game High Strangeness, Pause Music has released a free sampler of the games soundtrack composed by Rich Vreeland (<a target="_blank" href="http://www.disasterpeace.com/">aka Disasterpeace</a>). Thanks to its financial backers on Kickstarter, the project recently met its funding goal of $1,500 and will be releasing in 2010. High Strangeness is the brainchild of Dtoid community member <a target="_blank" href="http://www.destructoid.com/blogs/pixelpunx">PixelPunx</a> who is also responsible for the episodic chiptune mixtape, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.stfuajpgm.com">STFUAJPGM</a>. Needless to say, Im really looking forward to this game, and so should you.
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<br/><a target="_blank" href="http://www.iimusic.net/home/2009/08/disasterpeace-high-strangeness-new-music">Get the sampler free here</a>.
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<br/>Check out <a target="_blank" href="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/251446771/high-strangeness-a-12-bit-action-adventure-video-game">High Strangeness on Kickstarter</a> to learn more about the game.
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<br/>[embed]145920:21776[/embed]Community Blogs:145226Chiptune artists dig on Miles, discover a different Kind of Blue - Zen AlbatrossZen Albatross2009-08-20T18:13:50Z2009-08-20T18:13:50Z<img src="http://bulk2.destructoid.com/ul/user/1/19247-132453-kindofbloopnotypefullpng-620x.jpg"/>
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<br/>Miles Davis <em>Kind of Blue</em> was a landmark achievement in the history of recorded sound. It not only pioneered modern Jazz as we know it, but also refined the art of recording and completely changed the way musicians produced albums. Since its release in the summer of 1959, Kind of Blue has been consistently regarded as one of the most influential recordings of all time. In honor of the records 50th Anniversary, Andy Baio of Waxy.org assembled an all-star team of chiptune musicians to create <a target="_blank" href="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/waxpancake/kind-of-bloop-an-8-bit-tribute-to-miles-davis"><em>Kind of Bloop</em></a>, a complete re-imagining of the seminal Jazz classic, created using obsolete videogame hardware.
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<br/>Go ahead and shout blasphemy now, if you like. But take a moment to consider the amazing nature of this project and the manner in which it came about; a method which very well may be just as revolutionary as the artistry it pays tribute to.
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<br/>I had the pleasure of chatting with both project organizer <a target="_blank" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andy_Baio_%28blogger%29">Andy Baio</a> and chip musician <a target="_blank" href="http://www.richvreeland.com/">Rich Vreeland</a> about the ambitious plan to create the ultimate chiptune jazz tribute album. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.thatvideogameblog.com/2009/08/20/chiptune-artists-dig-on-miles-discover-a-different-kind-of-blue/">Click here to read the full article</a> and discover the story behind <em>Kind of Bloop</em>, as well as a new breed of fan-funded projects that are changing the way people make independent games and music forever.
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<br/>Kind of Bloop is <a target="_blank" href="http://www.kindofbloop.com">available for download now</a> on the projects official website. Backers of the project received an advance copy of the album earlier this week, among other goodies depending on how much they contributed. Check it out!Community Blogs:142779Shark Week Tribute: The Singing Shark, Pixelstyle - Zen AlbatrossZen Albatross2009-08-04T19:14:16Z2009-08-04T19:14:16ZIt's Shark Week, motherfuckers. Time for shit to get REAL.
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<br/>Here's my pixel art tribute to <a target="_blank" href="http://www.hockeyzombie.com/">Chris Vangompel's</a> 'The Singing Shark':
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<br/>If you're following me on <a target="_blank" href="http://www.twitter.com/zenalbatross">Twitter</a>, you may have noticed that I've been making one pixel doodle (almost) every day for the past week. It's a small project I've started to keep myself creatively active despite my soul-crushing work schedule. As soon as I'm caught up on the days I missed, I'll be posting all of the doodles for your viewing pleasure. Stay tuned.Community Blogs:142131Zen Albatross: CONFIRMED FOR PAX - Zen AlbatrossZen Albatross2009-07-31T11:13:59Z2009-07-31T11:13:59ZDear Seattle,
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<br/>I'm going to be in you.
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<br/>Please enjoy this postcard from the future:
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<br/>Love,
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<br/>Zen &lt;3Community Blogs:141648Music Monday: Happy 20th, Earthbound! - Zen AlbatrossZen Albatross2009-07-27T23:29:56Z2009-07-27T23:29:56Z<img src="http://fc05.deviantart.com/fs46/f/2009/208/a/d/MOTHER_20th_Anniversary_by_DragonKazooie89.png"/>
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<br/>It's hard to believe that it's been 20 years since Mother, the game that started Shigesato Itoi's quirky RPG trilogy debuted on the Japanese Famicom. When I first played Earthbound (Mother 2) for the SNES, I was immediately stricken by the music. I'm convinced that there is no other possible score that could properly and effectively convey this game's unusual sense of humor and charming, unabashed optimism. The more I write music, the more I begin to realize the incredible impact this game's soundtrack has had on my creative endeavors. Mother is a truly inspiring musical odyssey, and a landmark achievement in sound for video games.
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<br/>So, what better way to celebrate two decades of Mother than by riding around town on your bicycle, launching bottle rockets at sunglasses-wearing crows and listening to <strong>Bound Together</strong>, the fantastic <a target="_blank" href="http://www.destructoid.com/blogs/joecamnet">JoeCam</a>-curated <strong>Earthbound remix tribute album</strong>. If you're a fan of Earthbound/Mother and you've never heard Bound Together, you're in for a treat.
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<br/><strong>48 quality rearrangements</strong> by a plethora of musicians from <a target="_blank" href="http://ocremix.org">OverClocked Remix</a>, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.oneupstudios.com">OneUp Studios</a> and <a target="_blank" href="http://www.vgmix.com">VGmix</a> comprise this absolutely stellar volume. There's even a vocal performance from our very own <strong>Dale North</strong>! The album is of course free-to-download, as many worthwhile things are. Click the download link below!
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<br/><strong>Download: </strong><a target="_blank" href="http://www.wushuplaya.com/boundtogether/">'BOUND TOGETHER: An Earthbound Remix Project'</a>
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<br/><strong>Happy MOTHER's Day!</strong>
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